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To brace his players for the challenge ahead, 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman provided a highlight reel featuring the turnovers created by the Bears’ defense this season.

Roman didn’t expose them to every takeaway, however. No sense in making his players sit through a miniseries: “The Art of Stripping and Picking: Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and the 2012 Chicago Bears.”

“We didn’t have time to show it all to them,” Roman said of the extensive turnover reel, “so we showed them some of it.”

The ball-hawking Bears enter Monday night’s game at Candlestick Park with an NFL-high 30 takeaways and are on pace for 53, which would be the most in the NFL since the 1989 Eagles (56). Entering Week 11, Chicago’s 30 interceptions or fumble recoveries were at least 11 more than 29 of the league’s other 31 teams.

Last season, the 49ers tied for the NFL lead with 38 takeaways and their defensive players pointed to “Takeaway Thursdays” as a reason for their success. Last week, Chicago inside linebacker Lance Briggs was asked if the Bears also had a day of the week when they placed particular emphasis in forcing turnovers during practice.

“Every day,” Briggs said. “Even on our off day. We might even get a text from our coaches asking us if we’re stripping today.”

The torrent of takeaways has been led by Tillman and Jennings, cornerbacks who have accounted for 57 percent of the Bears’ forced turnovers. Tillman has a league-best seven forced fumbles (only seven NFL teams had more fumble recoveries in the season’s first 11 weeks). Jennings has an NFL-high eight interceptions (only 14 teams had more).

The turnovers have led directly to points. The Bears established an NFL record with seven interception returns for touchdowns in their first eight games. Briggs and Tillman each had defensive touchdowns in back-to-back weeks this season, the first duo in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Tillman, whose nickname is “Peanut,” is a top-flight cover corner, but he’s best known for his unparalleled ability to pop the ball loose from ball carriers. Tillman’s 36 forced fumbles since 2003 are 15 more than any defensive back over that span.

His skill has inspired “Peanut Punch” T-shirts in Chicago and a legion of inspired admirers.

After Northwestern had two forced fumbles among the four turnovers it collected in a 23-20 win over Michigan State on Saturday, Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald gave Tillman partial credit. During the week, Fitzgerald had shown his team video of Tillman forcing four fumbles in a win over the Titans this season.

“I believe everybody in the country on defense has kind of been invigorated by Peanut Tillman,” Fitzgerald said.

Said Roman: “When it comes to stripping the ball and punching it out, he’s just so far ahead of everybody, it’s not even funny.”

And Jim Harbaugh: “He’s probably the best that anybody has ever seen.”

Tillman’s unique ability has created both loose balls and laughs.

In a conference call this past week, Briggs offered the Bay Area media his Peanut-inspired comedy bit, which had Tillman howling in the background: “Tillman is the NFL’s greatest stripper I believe. He’s been doing it for a long time. He didn’t start this thing overnight, you know. He’s been making his money off stripping since he was in college.”

Monday night’s game has been billed as a matchup between elite defenses: The 49ers lead the NFL with 14.1 points allowed per game and the Bears (14.8) rank second.

It’s the head-to-head matchup between a defense known for takeaways and an offense adept at ball security that figures to be most intriguing.

Last season, the 49ers tied an NFL record by committing only 10 turnovers. This season, they had nine giveaways entering Week 11, tied for the sixth-fewest in the league. Quarterback Alex Smith has thrown an NFL-low 11 interceptions in his past 806 attempts since 2010. Running back Frank Gore has one fumble in his past 323 carries.

The 49ers haven’t committed a turnover in 11 of their 25 regular-season games under Harbaugh. Pulling off another error-free game Monday will be a challenge against a defense headlined by Jennings and Tillman, corners whose opposing peers are eager to see them up close.

“Tillman is able to punch the ball out and also able to tackle the ball carriers,” 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers said. “It’s something unbelievable. So I’ll be up on my seat watching those guys play because I like defense.”

49ers on Monday

Who: Bears (7-2) vs. 49ers (6-2-1)

Where: Candlestick Park

When: 5:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: ESPN Channel: 5 /680, 107.7

Bears (7-2) at 49ers (6-2-1)

5:30 p.m., ESPN Channel: 5 (680, 107.7)

Spotlight on: Defensive tackle Justin Smith. The 49ers’ All-Pro will see plenty of former 49ers right guard Chilo Rachal, who lost his starting job in San Francisco last year and is playing a new position in Chicago. Sound like a mismatch? Possibly. The Bears’ left guard ranks 55th of 64 guards who have played at least 300 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Smith is an integral part of a once-impenetrable run defense that occasionally has been shoved around this season. In their two losses and a tie, the 49ers have allowed an average of 151.3 rushing yards. In their six wins: 67.3.

Injury notes: 49ers – Quarterback Alex Smith (concussion) is questionable, but is expected to play after taking the bulk of the practice snaps last week. Ten players are listed as probable, including running back Frank Gore (hand, ribs). Bears – Starting quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion) is out and will be replaced by Jason Campbell, who will be making his first start since Oct. 16, 2011. Rookie wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is expected to play for the first time since breaking his hand in Week 5.

Big Three

– The 49ers and Bears are the only NFL teams without a 1,000-yard wide receiver since 2003, but Chicago’s drought could end Monday. Entering Week 11, Brandon Marshall ranked second in the NFL in catches (67) and third in yards (904). Marshall, 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, also ranks 10th in the NFL in yards after catch (250) and third in tackles broken (10), according to Pro Football Focus.

– Are you ready for some … sacks? The 49ers have allowed 29 sacks, the fourth most in the NFL, and the Bears have surrendered 28 (fifth). The spotlight could shine on San Francisco outside linebacker Aldon Smith (9 1/2 sacks) and Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers (six). The Bears’ Henry Melton ranks second among NFL defensive tackles with five sacks.

– Chicago cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings form perhaps the NFL’s best tandem. Quarterbacks have thrown two touchdowns and 10 interceptions when targeting the two this season. Their passer rating: 44.0.